Supreme Court hears appeal against Kanu’s release request Sept 14

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Supreme Court yesterday in Abuja fixed September 14, 2023 for definite hearing of the appeal filed by the Federal Government challenging the release request of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The hearing of the main appeal which was scheduled for yesterday, Thursday May 11, 2023 could not go on as scheduled as the Federal Government insisted it wants to file its response to an objection raised by Kanu’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN in his brief of argument.

It would be recalled that the Apex Court had at the last adjourned date , April 27, 2023 gave the FG six days to file all her processes and serve same on Kanu.

When the court reconvened yesterday, Tijani Gazali, SAN who stood for the Federal Government told the court that he needed time to respond to the objection raised by Ozekhome in his brief of argument that was served on him on Wednesday

In his reply Ozekhome said that the appellant could respond orally to the objection contained in his brief of argument and allow the main appeal to be heard.

Ozekhome passionately appealed to the panel of Justices to grant a short adjournment if the appeal is not heard in view

Yola court remands 30 yr old man for allegedly defrauding a lady N5m

From Umar Dankano, Yola

The Chief magistrate Court (l) sitting in Yola,Adamawa state has remanded a 30 year old Ahmed Mohammed in prison custody for allegedly defrauding a lady the sum of N5.152 Million under false pretense.

Arraining the suspect before the court yesterday, police prosecutor, inspector S.S Nicholas informed the court that the suspect (defendant) defrauded a lady by name Munete Benson Atanga of Sangere FUTY quarters of the sum of N5, 152, 400.

Nicholas explained that, the defendant popularly known as Babangida, defrauded his victim after he falsely promised to offer her Covid-19 financial grant or empowerment through his connections to the centre in Abuja.

According to him, Munete Benson Atanga, in a letter of complaint to the Commissioner of Police dated 9th December, 2022, narrated that she met with Ahmed, on the 1st June, 2022, while on her way from Mubi roundabout to Sangere FUTY.

That,Ahmed at first point of contact introduced himself as the biological son of the current Minister of Police Affairs to the lady and demanded for her phone number in order to help her.

He stated that the defendant gave his victim 2 different account numbers of Zenith bank bearing different names and 1 account number of FCMB with a different name.

According to the prosecutor with the believe Ahmed may be help,the lady kept sending money into the account numbers which amounted to over N5million.

Nicholas told the Court that,the suspect also defaruded another woman identified as Hasiya Hamman, of the sum of N870, 000 of Luggere quarters in Yola North LGA using the same of Kanu’s worsening health conditions or alternatively hear his bail application.

“If this is not possible, my Lords kindly hear the respondent’s application seeking to transfer Kanu from the custody of the Department of State Service, DSS,to the National Correctional Center”, Ozekhome told the court.

The senior lawyer said he made plea because Kanu will die in DSS custody.

Moved by the senior counsel’s plea, the Presiding Justice, Justice John Inyang Okoro said Kanu will not die and called for the Court’s diary.

He explained that the only available short date is September 14, 2023.

According to him, “it would amount to an exercise in futility if any of the application is taken because there is no time to write the ruling and deliver it in three months time particularly as the Court would proceed on vacation soon.

Justice Okoro also said that the Apex Court is occupied with political cases which are time bound.

Meanwhile the Apex Court on Thursday granted four separate applications brought by the Federal Government for extension of time and to deem as properly filed and served on respondents the processes it filed out of time.

It would also be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Abuja

Division, had on October 13, 2022, cleared Nnamdi Kanu of alleged treason and terrorism charges against him and dismissed the remaining six count charges brought against him by the Federal Government.

The Court of Appeal faulted the processes adopted by the Federal Government in renditing Kanu back to Nigeria from Kenya on the grounds that it breached all known International Protocol.

Another panel of the same court however, on the October, 28, 2022, granted Federal Government prayer for a stay of execution of the Court’s earlier decision pending hearing and determination of the instant appeal at the Supreme Court.

Buhari appoints AIG Garba Baba

tricks.

He said Ahmed has committed offences including ; “criminal breach of trust, cheating and impersonation” contrary to sections 302, 312 and 145 of the penal code law 2018.

As the charges contained in the First Information Report (FIR) were read out and interpreted to the defendant, he voluntarily admitted having defrauded his victims urging the judge to grant him bail.

But swiftly Inspector Nicholas objected the bail application saying based on the police report, the defendant is not a first time offender.

In her ruling, Magistrate Alheri Ishaku refused granting the bail application ordering that the suspect be remanded at the Yola prison facility and subsequently adjourned the case to the 24th May, 2023.

Umar as Adviser on security

By Egena Sunday Ode

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed the retiring Assistant Inspector General of Police, Garba Baba Umar, as a Senior Security Adviser on International Police Cooperation and Counterterrorism in the office of the Minister of Police Affairs.

A statement by the Senior Spacial Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu disclosed on Thursday.

According to the Statement, the appointment is to enable Nigeria keep the important position and make way for him to complete his nationally beneficial tenure as an Executive Member of the International Police Organization, INTERPOL.

In approving his appointment, President Buhari took note of a precedent in which a former Executive Member, AIG Kamal Subair (Rtd) was retained in service by the Federal Government of Nigeria after retirement in 2018, the statement said.

It added that President Buhari also took note of the fact that during his tenure as a member of the Executive

Committee, AIG Umar assisted Nigeria in many ways, with the hope that in the remaining one year, he will even do more in securing equipment for crime scenes, border management and counter-terrorism for the country and in helping to get more Nigerians into important positions in the INTERPOL.

AIG Umar’s tenure at the INTERPOL ends in November 2024, and his new appointment as Senior Security Adviser takes effect from 16th of May, 2023, the statement noted.